The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-04-14
Random Thoughts.
j. H. NJ.

j. H. M
In considering the political situa-
ton, my mind runs back over the
varied experiences of the past to my
first impressions of the Republican
party, and my first experience as a
Republican. This was in the Ere
mont campaign, in 1855 ! was then
but small boy, but took a part in
the public demonstrations of that
campaign. In those days there was
no more enthusiastic or determined
Republican than "Old Doctor Miller"
as we familiarly called him. What
ever promised to add to the success of
the fortunes Of the party, he was anx-
ious to make the best use of. He
conceived the idea of adding some
thing of a novelty to the public pa
rades of meetings IN that campaign,
by organizing a mock-military COM
pany, to parade in uniform. A new
bass-drum was purchased, an old snare
drum secured, Bill West brough out
his fife, and we had our martial band
was organized. G.. w. Cavett, snare
drummer, Bill West ffer, and Har
rison Smith bass-drummer. We had
a large flag, carried by Oscar Walter
house. Our uniform consisted of
white pants, blue jackets with white
braid ''herring-bone" pattern across
the front. and black oil-cloth caps.
Each member carried banner con-
tanning motto. I remember that
mine was Fremont and Free Repub-
lic." The notices were all different.
They were printed by J. M. Laird,
now of Portsmouth. How little |
thought of the full significance of
that motto then. | was then but
nine years old, and how entirely for
eign was the thought that six years
thereafter l would be carrying one Of
Uncle Sans rifles through the Slave
States Of the South, assisting, at the
age of fifteen, in making this free
Republic. But the hand that moves
the world seems to have set IN mo-
ton. even in that year, the power
which was to crush the great National
disgrace, land remove that stain from
the banner of the Nation.
H. G. Miller was captain Of the
Fremont Boys" and he afterward
served as an officer in the war, and
put into practical execution the doc
trines and theories of the Fremont
campaign. The Fremont Boys" are
widely scattered now. Many Of them
[ do not know the fate of. Smith,
the drummer, is still here, a middle
aged man, with family Of children.
Cavett. the drummer, is in Covington,
and has a son who is perhaps nearly
old enough to vote. West, the ffer,
is in Nebraska. All, / believe, were
soldiers In the war, unless it be West.
Capt. Miller is our Probate Judge,
and retains those excellencies of char
acter that made him such determin-
ed commander both in the banner
company, and in the field. Brave
old Doctor Miller, and his son 0. c.,
both of whom were such earn
est, active Republican workers, have
long since passed away, as also good
old Mother Miller, than whom kind
er-hearted or more patriotic woman
never lived. The story of the Repub-
lican party is remarkable one. The
movement of SO seemed to have its
origin and its impetus in higher
power than the minds Of men. From
that exciting campaign down to the
present, covers an exciting period in
the history Of this country From
one exciting campaign into the next,
which eliminated in the war, then
through four years of bloodshed, then
the reconstruction excitement, the
building up Of the financial condition
Of the country. and the resumption OF
specie payments. In all these exper-
fences, the Fremont Boys" stood sol
idly for the party, and as fast as they
became of age began voting the tick
ct, and have never yet seen any occa-
sion for changing their minds. True
once in a while we hear puny squeak
from some political scavenger, who
has never seen aught Of the heat, and
turmoil, Of the life Of the Republican
party, to the effect that those who have
done so should stand back and permit
the latter day saints of politics to
demonstrate how the party should be
managed. Bnt this sound is but the
muling of the political infant, and is
laughable to the man who holds prin-
ciple above the criminal grasping fol
spoils. On the whole, | believe the
political record Of the Fremont Boys
to be above criticism.